Spacer apparatus for paper cutting machine



Jan. 13, 1970 H. F. SELCER 3,489,047

SPACER APPARATUS FOR PAPER CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG HUBERTF SELCER //VVE/VTOR BY Fbgden Qzcwe! WiI/mn X Muflhew ATTORNEYS Jan. 13, 1970 H. F. SELCER SPACER APPARATUS FOR PAPER CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 DH w H M 7 E m b w m mmw M M 1115i m J m whwagfi 7 w a? I2 P a 6 7 l L W 7 Lw 6 7 r. v 5 m 1 v m /M W i: P m /7 w IN VE N TOR FIG. 3

m de Ewe wwmzF umW ATTORNEYS Jan. 13, 1970 H. F. SELCER 3,489,047

SPACER APPARATUS FOR PAPER CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 HUBERTF SELCER INVE N TOR F 4 Ma da raw mm z atthew ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,489,047 SPACER APPARATUS FOR PAPER CUTTING MACHINE Hubert F. Selcer, Box 306, Alief, Tex. 77411 Filed Jan. 17, 1968, Ser. No. 698,453 Int. Cl. B26d 7/02 US. Cl. 83-453 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A base member is abutted against a paper back stop of a paper cutting machine and a paper clamp plate of the machine is moved and positioned on a movable spring loaded paper clamp support member mounted with the base member. The paper clamp plate forces the support member downwardly to enable the plate to clamp paper abutted against the front portion of the base member. The blade of the paper machine is then actuated to move downwardly and cut the paper to the desired dimensions, which dimensions are smaller than may be normally accommodated by the paper cutting machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to a spacer apparatus for a paper cutting machine and more particularly to a new spacer apparatus for a paper cutting mchine.

Description of the prior art Paper cutting machines generally include a movable back stop on a flat table which receives stacked paper that abuts against the back stop formed of a plurality of forwardly extending, spaced projections. A paper clamp plate is supported on a plurality of downwardly extending, spaced projections. The plate is adjacent the back stop and can be lowered to tightly clamp the paper between the plate and table and a cutting blade mounted in front of, and adjacent the plate is then actuated to cut the paper into desired lengths.

However, if it is desired to cut the paper in dimensions less than the width of the paper clamp plate, the plate must first be removed from the depending projections which support it so that the depending projections are exposed to intermesh with the forwardly extending projections of the back stop so that the blade may be actuated to cut widths less than the width of the plate. When this is done, the exposed depending projections scar or mark the upper sheets of the stacked paper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention relates to a spacer apparatus for a paper cutting machine including a base member for positioning against the back stop of a paper cutting machine and a paper clamp support member movably secured with the base member wherein the paper clamp plate of the paper cutting machine is positioned on the movable member to desired dimensions. The paper is abutted against the front of the base member to enable the blade of the paper cutting machine to cut widths of paper less than the Width of the paper clamp plate. Thus, the paper can be cut to dimensions smaller than the width of the paper clamp plate without removing the paper clamp plate and without damaging the paper that is cut.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a spacer apparatus for a paper cutting machine which enables paper to be cut at widths less than the width of a paper clamp plate.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide 3,489,047 Patented Jan. 13, 1970 a spacer apparatus for a paper cutting machine including a base member abutted adjacent the back stop of the machine and a movable paper clamp support member for supporting the paper clamp support plate of the machine to thereby enable paper to be abutted against the front of the base member wherein the blade of the machine may be actuated to enable widths of paper less than the width of the paper clamp plate to be cut.

Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved spacer apparatus for paper cutting machines which enables widths of paper less than the width of a paper clamp plate of the paper cutting machine to be cut without removal of the paper clamp plate and without damage to the stacked paper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an exploded view in perspective of a base member and a movable paper clamp support member of the spacer apparatus of the present invention for paper cutting machines;

FIG. 2 is a side view partly in section illustrating the relationship of the base member and movable paper clamp support member of the spacer apparatus for paper cutting machines of the present invention and also partially illustrates the movable paper back stop, paper clamp plate, and paper cutting blade of a paper cutting machine;

FIG. 3 is a side view, partly in section, similar to FIG. 2. illustrating the relationship of the paper clamp base member, a spring member and a paper clamp support plate and cutting blade of the paper cutting machine; and

FIG. 4 is an elevated perspective view showing the spacer apparatus of the present invention positioned to abut a paper back stop of a paper cutting machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Attention is directed to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 wherein the spacer apparatus for paper cutting machines is generally designated by the numeral 10. The spacer apparatus for paper cutting machines 10 of the present invention includes a base member generally designated at 11 and a movable paper clamp support member generally designated at 12 which fit together in a relationship to be brought out hereinafter.

A base member 11 is illustrated as including a flat bottom member 15 having a front edge 1511, a rear edge 15b, and end edges 15c and 15d. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, a pair of upstanding side walls 20 and 21 are mounted adjacent and parallel to respective end edges 15c and 15d of the bottom member 15 and on the upper surface, 151, thereof.

Side walls 20 and 21 include a wall portion or section 20a and 21a and a well portion or section 20b and 21b, respectively which extends upwardly above the lower wall sections 20a and 21a, respectively. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, one of each of a pair of retainer members 22, which may assume any suitable form, are illustrated as including a section 22a secured to the outer surface of the upper section 20b and 21b of side walls 20 by any suitable means such as screws 23 and a section 22b which extends upwardly above the sections 20b and 21b of the walls 20 and 21, respectively to curve at right angles or transversely to the walls 20 and 21.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, a limit member 30 is positioned between the section 22b of each of the retainer means 22 and the upper surface 200 and 21c of each of the wall sections 20b and 21b, respectively, adjacent each end 30a and 30b, respectively so that the retainer means 22 retains the limit means 30 in fixed transverse relation to the side walls 20 and 21.

A back wall 35 is secured to the limit means 30 and abuts the rear edges 36 of the side walls 20 and 21.

A lower edge 35a of the back wall 35 rests on ledge or lip 37 of the bottom member adjacent rear edge 15b.

A plurality of base member upstanding spaced fingers 40 are mounted on the upper surface 15 of the bottom member 15 and are divided into two finger sections 40a and 40b. Sections 40a of the fingers 40 extend upwardly and toward the edge 36 of the walls and 21 the same distance as sections 20a and 21a of the walls 20 and 21, respectively as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 such that the wall sections 20a, 21c and section 40a of fingers 40 are of the same height and length. The finger section 40b of fingers 40 extend upwardly above section 40a 2. distance designated by the numeral 42 which distance is less than the height of sections 20b and 21b of the walls 20 and 21, respectively. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the length of the sections 40b designated by the numeral 43 may be less than the length of the upstanding sections 20b and 21b of the side walls 20 and 21 and therefore the ends of finger sections 40b might not abut wall 35.

As illustrated in FIGS. 13, one of each of a pair of guide means 47 is mounted adjacent the inner surface 20d and 21d of each of the wall sections 20b and 21b of the side walls 20 and 21, respectively and adjacent the edges 36 of the side walls 20 and 21, respectively. The guide means 47 extends longitudinally and parallel to each of the wall sections 20b and 21b of the side walls 20 and 21 from adjacent the upper surface 15 of the bottom member 15 to adjacent the upper surface 200 and 21c of the wall sections 20b and 21b of side walls 20 and 21, respectively. The guide means 47 includes walls 48 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 a coiled spring member 60 is positioned at one end 60a in an opening 61 in the finger section 40a of the centermost finger 40. The end 62 of the spring member 60 rests on the bottom 61a of the opening 61 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The upper end 63 of the spring member 60 extends upwardly a distance greater than the height of the finger section 40b of fingers 40 but less than the vertical height of the wall sections 20b and 21b of the side Walls 20 and 21, respectively. It is to be understood that while the spring member 60 is illustrated as being positioned in the centermost finger 40 that spring member '60 may be positioned relative to any of the fingers 40. It is also to be understood that spring member 60 may include other types of compression or load bearing members.

As illustrated in FIGS. l-4, the movable paper clamp support member 12 includes a first set of spaced fingers 70 intermeshed with the finger sections 40a of the base fingers 40 such that the first set of fingers 70 are positioned in the openings or spaces 71 between the portions 40a of the fingers 40. A paper clamp base member 73 is secured transversely with each of said first set of fingers 70 and extends from side wall section 20a to side wall portion 21a. The length of paper clamp base member 73 as illustrated by the numeral 73a is substantially the width of the side wall sections 20a and 21a as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 the lower surface 73b of the paper clamp base member 73 contacts the upper end 63 of spring member 60. As illustrated in FIG. 2,'

when force is not applied to the base member 73 the spring member 60 is not under compression and lower end 70a of the first set of fingers extends partially below the upper surface 40c of the base member fingers as illustrated by the numeral 70b.

A lower end 75 of the first set of fingers 70 is arcuately curved upwardly to a corner 76 which corner 76 of each of the first set of fingers 70 is integrally connected with one of a plurality of spaced second set of fingers 80. Fingers 80 extend upwardly above the paper clamp base member 73 a distance indicated by the arrow 77 and the front edge 80a of each of the second set of fingers is immediately adjacent the back edge 73c of the paper clamp base member 73. Each of the first set of fingers 70 and second set of fingers are positioned in the same plane as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 so that the second set of fingers 80 are intermeshed with the finger section 40b of the base member fingers 40 and are positioned between the finger section 4% in the spaces 71 as are the first set of fingers 70 relative to the base finger section 40a.

The rear edge 80b of each of the second set of fingers 80 is secured transversely with finger support member 90. Each end a and 90b of finger support members 90 extends outwardly past each of the endmost second set of fingers 80 to form a pair of tracks 91 and 92 at each end 90a and 90b, respectively, Tracks 91 and 92 on each of the ends 90a and 90b form channels 95 for receiving one of each of the guide means 47 mounted with each of the side wall sections 20b and 21b. It should be noted that each of the channels 95 are at least the depth of the walls 48 of the guide means 47.

In the operation of the invention, and as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 a paper cutting machine generally designated at includes a table member 101 having an upper surface 101a for receiving stacks of paper to be cut. The paper cutting machine 100 also includes a movable paper back stop designated at 102 which normally includes spaced fingers or forwardly extending projections 103 secured with a support member 104. In the normal operation of the paper cutting machine, paper is placed on the upper surface 101a of the table 101 and abutted against the paper back stop 102. The paper back stop 102 is movable along the surface 101a of table 101, and a,

dial at the front of the machine indicates the distance from the cutting blade to the front edge of back stop 102. A paper clamp plate 106 is then moved downwardly to contact the paper and clamp it so that it cannot move and then the paper cutting blade 110 having a support member 111 secured with the blade by suitable nut and bolt means 112 is actuated so that the blade 110 moves downwardly to cut the paper. It should be apparent from this arrangement that if it is desired to cut paper widths less than the width of the paper clamp plate 106 such as indicated by the numeral that it is impossible to do so unless the paper clamp plate 106 is unbolted and removed from the paper cutting machine 100. The plate 106 is supported on a plurality of downwardly depending projections (not shown). When the plate is removed, the plate 106 may be lowered to intermesh with the forwardly projecting fingers of the back stop to clamp the paper 101a, but this disfigures the upper sheets of paper thus clamped.

However, with the spacer apparatus for cutting machines 10 of the present invention the bottom member 15 is positioned on the table surface 101a and abutted against the paper back stop 102 illustrated in FIG. 4 such that the wall 35 contacts the paper back stop fingers 103.

In this position the spring member 60 is forcing the paper clamp base member 73 upwardly and the movable paper clamp support member 12 is retained with the base member 11 by the limit member 30. This is accomplished by the upper surface of the finger support member 90 and the upper surface of the second set of fingers 80 contacting the lower surface 300 of the limit member 30. Of course, and has been explained hereinabove the limit member 30 is retained by the clamps 22 at each end 30a and 30b adjacent the ends 200 and 210 of the side wall sections 20b and 21b, respectively.

With the bottom member 15 abutted against the paper back stop 102 a stack of paper P is then positioned on the upper surface 101a of the table and abutted against the front edge 15a of the bottom member 15 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The paper clamp plate 106 is then lowered in position such that some portion of the paper clamp plate 106 contacts the upper surface 73d of the paper clamp base member. In this position and as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 the paper clamp plate 106 extends outwardly a certain distance indicated by the numeral 120 past the edge a of the bottom member 15 which distance is less than the width 105 of the paper clamp blade 106. As the paper clamp blade 105 is moved downwardly, it moves the paper clamp base member 73 downwardly to compress the spring member (FIG. 3). Such downward movement of the paper clamp base member 73 causes the first set of fingers to move downwardly relative to the finger section 40a in the spaces 71 and causes the second set of fingers to move downwardly relative to the finger base section 40b in the appropriate spaces 71. As the fingers 70 and 80 move downwardly relative to the finger section 40a and 40b the channels move downwardly and are guided by the guide means 47 to ensure that the respective fingers are maintained in an intermeshed relationship.

The paper clamp plate 106 is moved continually downwardly until it contacts and tightly clamps the paper P. Thereafter the paper cutting blade 110 is actuated to cut the paper as illustrated generally at in FIG. 3 and the resulting paper strips are cut in widths less than the width of the paper clamp plate 106. The back stop 102 is movable along surface 101a, and a gauge at the forwardend of the paper cutting machine indicates in inches, the distance from the blade 110 to the back stop 102. The present invention may be made in any size to accomplish the results desired. By way of example only, the vertical height of fingers 40 may be varied to accommodate a stack of paper of desired vertical height to be cut.

After a sufiicient number of strips of paper have been cut the paper clamp plate 106 is then raised which frees the paper clamp base member 73 which enables the spring member 60 to move the movable paper clamp support member 12 upwardly until it contacts the limit member 30 as brought out hereinabove.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A device for enabling a paper cutting machine to cut lengths of paper with a cutting blade less than the width of a paper clamp plate comprising:

(a) a base member including a plurality of base member upstanding spaced fingers;

(b) a movable paper clamp support member including a first set of spaced fingers intermeshed between said base member fingers and a paper clamp member secured transversely with said first set of fingers; and

(c) a spring member mounted between said base member upstanding fingers and said first set of spaced fingers for continually urging said fingers apart wherein the paper clamp plate is positioned on said base member to force said first set of spaced fingers downwardly to enable the plate to be supported by said first set of fingers and wherein the plate retains paper adjacent said base member for enabling the cutting blade to cut the paper.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spring member is mounted with the centermost of said fingers, and extends upwardly to contact said paper clamp base member.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said base member includes a bottom member and upstanding side walls mounted therewith, said base member abutting a paper back stop on the paper cutting machine and wherein said plurality of base member upstanding spaced fingers are mounted with said bottom member and extend upwardly parallel to said side walls.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said movable paper clamp support member includes a second set of spaced fingers adjacent said first set of fingers, said second set of fingers extending upwardly above and adjacent said paper clamp base member; and

(b) said base member includes:

(1) a guide means for said second set of spaced fingers; and

(2) a limit member mounted adjacent said guide means for limiting upward movement of said second set of spaced fingers when the paper clamp plate is removed from said paper clamp base member and said movable paper clamp support member is forced upwardly by said spring member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,329,890 9/1943 Fisher s3 453 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,335,458 7/1963 France. 1,024,297 3/ 1966 Great Britain.

WILLIAM S. LAWSON, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 83467 

